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Buying a home in Lavina, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Lavina is worth about $129,200, 66% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 61% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $733 a year in property taxes, about 0.57% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $40,625 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 81% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lavina at a glance

Lavina Montana U.S.
Median home value $129,200 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $733 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.57% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $40,625 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 81% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 51% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,321 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.0% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $625 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 15.0% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1958 1981 1980
Vacant homes 10.2% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 134 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lavina

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lavina home of $129,200 with 20% down costs about $811 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,026, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $34,736 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Lavina household income of $40,625; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $151,000.

The median rent here is $625 a month, so owning the median home costs about $186 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$25,840
Loan amount$103,360
Principal and interest$695
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$61
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$54
PMI$0
Total per month$811

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,522
Loan amount$126,860
Principal and interest$853
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$61
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$54
FHA mortgage insurance$57
Total per month$1,026

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Questions about home buying in Lavina

What is the median home value in Lavina?

About $129,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lavina?

Homeowners pay a median $733 a year, which is about 0.57% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Lavina?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $811 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $34,736 a year.

More about Lavina

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data